72 - Once more time, with feelings
Time to make this new wand show its magic.
Lookit my wand, so cute~~
Ah, warm coffee spell.
Start a cooking fire spell. Seriously? This is what Minnie's been trying to teach me during weekend? That slut!
What is it now?
Hello, dear. I was wondering about your plans for Spring Break.
Huh? I'm going home with my family of course.
You are welcome to remain here, you know.
I know, but why would I want to do that?
Ah. Perhaps you should come with me.
She leads me out of the hall and into a classroom.
I was thinking that it would give you some time to spend with Hieronymous outside of the classroom environment.
Woman, have you gone senile from old age?
Why? It's not like we're a real couple.
No, not at the moment. However...
I'm not hearing her right. She sighs at my shaking of head.
There are things you ought to know, when dealing with that minefield of a man.
Oh, boy here goes. Is she going to go all Gaider on me?
When he was a young wizard, only a few years older than yourself, he had a sweetheart that he was very much in love with. Her name was Violet, a brilliant wildseed girl.
I face-palmed as I listen to her tale.
She was not raised in our traditions, and he had his own reasons for mistrusting them. They were young and foolish and they disregarded all the warnings they had been given. They crossed together into the Otherworld.
Why are you telling me this?! I wanted to cry out in frustration, but only succeeded into turning my palm into a claw, digging deep into the surface of my cheeks.
An unguarded human soul passing the Spiral Gate shines like a beacon to the darkest of Fair Folk. They were overwhelmed by goblins and carried away. Her spirit was drained before his eyes.
I'm sorry.
Are you finished? Can I give a pity speech now?
All these years, and Hieronymous has never forgiven himself. He left England. He refuses to enter the Otherworld. And he has never allowed himself to fall in love again.
She pauses, and looks at me, expectantly.
This is so, so stupid.
Prof. Potsdam, should you really be telling me all this? This is his personal life, and I know he doesn't like people prying.
But you're not just anyone, my dear. You are his wife.
I shivered at the last two words.
He does his best to keep people at a distance, but you he can't get rid of so easily. So perhaps, you might succeed where others have failed.
Stop this, woman. You've gone the deep end. Go seek help.
I think the two of you could make a lovely couple, if you're willing to work at it.
He's 50, I'm 16. I have better things to do that helping out an old man finding his long lost spark that he missed out due to some youthful mistake he committed out of blind love. So he went drink driving when he was dating at 18, why do I have to pick up the pieces? Fuck that.
Be brave and clever, but not foolish, and who knows what might happen?
Prof. Potsdam...
Yes, dear?
Are you Ulminati in disguise?
No, dear. I.. don't quite understand.
Good. Or else I might have to kill you. Let's drop this subject. Now. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?
Oh my. Yes, I believe a little bird told me that you were interested in volunteering for the play?
Yes. That little bird is a good friend of mine.
Well, the sets and costumes have already been prepared, but we could find room for another usher, or a ticket-seller, or someone to help with clean up after the shows.
I'll sell the tickets.
Very well. You won't be alone, of course, but the lines move faster with more hands.
I leave the classroom with a mix of revulsion and disgust. The nerve of that woman. Has she lost it completely? This marriage isn't real. It's just a ploy to save my life! Can she imagine the life we're going to lead if this goes public? The social views, my academic life - not to mention my family's reaction? I don't hate Grabiner, but this marriage thing isn't something I'd consider for the long term.
Shucks, no green magic. I must've hated her so much that I didn't pay attention to her babblings.
What now?
Don't worry, RK. You'll like this. Damien's been expelled.
What? Why?
I heard he got caught trying to take advantage of a young freshman - no names given - and then Prof. Potsdam called down flaming swords and sliced him up as he ran away.
That sounds a little - overexaggerated.
Not to mention unbelievable. Damien, a homosexual? What?
Well, that's just what I heard. The important thing is, he's gone. No more demon-boy!
Amen to that.
It didn't take much for me to connect the dots, I don't know Damien well enough, but wasn't expulsion was considered for the fire incident? Oh well, whatever. Donald's not falsely accused anymore, so yeah, I don't care.
The musical? Enh, probably, if I remember where I put my change.
Oh, right. Tickets cost money. And I only have $4.00 left. Uh oh. Wait, since I'm volunteering, I can probably get in for free. Lucky! Then tomorrow I'll be home free - gaming the days away! And then there's only one month of school left before the super long break arrives.
Man, the mana cost - what the hell? Oh, well class is over, time to head to the play for the ticket sales.
I don't know a lot about music, but the songs are fun and keep things moving. Unfortunately, by the end, it would appear that the world is doomed! (But thankfully, only the world on stage.) When it's over, I stand up and cheer and wave when Donald and the chorus take their bows.
And then it's time to go...
I can't help but think that this feels more like coming home than last Saturday did. The person I'm at home is a lie, a happy face I put on to comfort my parents. They don't know all the things that have happened to me. The dungeons, the dangers, the monsters...
They don't know I'm married, and will be divorced before I'm eighteen. And I can't entirely understand the things they talk about. Some Presidential Election going on, there's a civil war in a middle eastern country, and China is still being a dick. I never heard about any of this at school.
More and more, we become disconnected. Now that I'm back here, there's someone I want to see. I make my way to his room and knock on his door.
Oh! RK. Hi.
Expecting someone else?
Kinda. Good to see you.
How's your break?
Enh.
His eyes flicker down the hall and back.
Let's go for a walk.
Sure.
We stroll out to the main quad, where spring is in full bloom. Warm sunlight and gentle breezes play over the flowers. Donald doesn't seem to be enjoying the scenery.
It's good to see somebody who's glad to see me.
So, how was your break?
Same as it ever was. I know it's stupid to think my family's all a sudden going to change their minds and be proud of me. I told them about the play and all I got was "That's nice." And then followed by a bunch of stupid lectures about that fire, which has nothing to do with me.
Didn't Virginia cleared it up?
Yeah, but so what? It doesn't matter. They're mad about what could have happened, never mind that it didn't. "Oh, you'll be kicked out, you'll shame the family, you'll break our hearts" - hah! Like they'd care. They're on my case more now that I'm not doing anything, because they don't believe it.
That's horrible.
Well, forget about them, then!
Huh?
Your family doesn't appreciate you. So what? Your family isn't the whole world. You are who are whether they know it or not. And...and...
You have me.
Heh. Easy for you to say, you don't have to live with them.
Why don't you try making up with Virginia? then at least you'd have someone on your side?
Urchin? On my side?
You two have more in common than you like to admit. And you don't really hate each other, do you?
Nah, but still. I think that's a bit much. You're right though. There's no point in sulking. Everything's fine. It's a beautiful day, and I'm with a beautiful girl -
Wha- say that again?
Nothing, just admiring the scenery.
I heard that.
I should get back, finish unpacking.
All right, I'll see you later.
He really is a nice guy.
Well, I'm back. And ready to start my classes!